The Art of Walking in Snow

I've been skirting around writing something about snow etiquette. If you listen to my podcast, or have ever been in a city where there has been a significant amount of snowfall, then you know, there is a specific manner in which you must walk down the sidewalk. If nobody follows these guidelines, then chaos will ensue. Okay, a bit much, but I'll get upset at the very least. Here's the set up. (Note, these rules can be applied to puddles after rain storms)

Usually, when it snows, even a little, there is often only a small path that is shovelled on the sidewalks, making it impossible for two people to pass at the same time, or to walk side by side.

*Rule #1: You cannot walk next to somebody, especially when there is another person trying to pass going the opposite way. (We want to avoid another Zax incident here)

I hope everyone in the US knows that we live in the US, and thus drive on the right side of the road, which usually results in people walking on the right side of the sidewalk.

*Rule #2: Even if you are not originally from the US, you must walk on the right side of the sidewalk.

Although women have made a lot of strides in recent years, gender is still an issue, regardless of how much some women say they don't want chivalry, it should just be a rule of thumb that:

*Rule #3: If there becomes an issue of one person walking through the small path first, women always get to go first.

So, what if gender is not an issue, you just have a small path, two girls, and only one can pass at a time? Then the shoes become the issue. Yes, it's winter. Yes, people should be wearing some sort of winter boot. But the reality is that a lot of people don't.

*Rule #4: The person wearing the least winter-like shoes is allowed to pass before the person wearing the more winter-like shoes. (This is always trumped by gender)

I know these rules don't cover all situations, but they should help. And hopefully it will help you and others avoid having to walk in the snow, mud, or even water. So please, be kind and considerate when walking along a snowy sidewalk.

-Angie